Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 56

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 56

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Orville H. Browning was one of the most il- lustrious citizens of Quincy. He was eminent as a lawyer and statesman and filled many im- portant offices in state and nation. A fine sketch and portrait of him will be found on another page of this work.

THE QUINCY BAR ASSOCIATION.

The Quincy Bar Association, a corporation, was organized in 1876, final certificate of in- corporation being filed by Joseph N. Carter. Hope S. Davis and Rufus L. Miller in the re- corder's office of Adams county. January 20 of that year. The stated object of the asso- ciation is "to establish and maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law, to cultivate social intercourse among its members and to increase its usefulness in promoting the

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due administration of justice." The associa- tion is directed by seven managers, and these are the names of the managers who were se- lected for the first year: Orville II. Browning, John H. Williams, Alexander E. Wheat, Ira M. Moore, Frederick V. Marey, Henry Asbury and William Marsh. Judge Williams is the only surviving member of the first board of managers.

After a considerable period the association became inactive, but was revived a few years ago and re-organized upon the former basis and with a fine spirit of interest, which has already shown important and gratifying re- sults. Following is a list of the present officers of the association: President, Joseph N. Car- ter: first vice president, II. S. Davis: second vice president. F. M. MeCann ; secretary, Wal- ter Bennett ; treasurer, George W. Govert. The present board of managers are: S. B. Mont- gomery. W. L. Vandeventer, M. F. Carrott. L. E. Emmons, Lyman MeCarl, Cart E. Epler. James N. Sprigg. This is the present roll of members of the association: Albert Akers, Charles L. Bartlett, Walter Bennett. L. II. Berger, John C. Broady. A. J. Broekschmidt, John Q. Brown, Matthew F. Carrott. Joseph N. Carter, Harry B. Coffield, W. H. Coon, Clay Crewdson, Hope S. Davis, Homer D. Dines. L. E. Emmons, Sr., L. E. Emmons. fr., Carl E. Epler. W. G. Feigenspan. Joseph I. Foreman. J. Frank Garner, John T. Gilmer, William I. Govert, George W. Govert, Joseph 1]. Hanly. W. J. Henry. John T. Inghram, Joseph C. Ivins, Charles A. James, George M. Janes, Merte W. Janes, 11. 1. Jansen, Uriah I. Keath, W. Emery Lancaster, W. P. Martindale, Frank M. McCann, Lyman MeCarl. Charles B. Me- Crory. Edward J. Mitchell. S. B. Montgomery. Theodore B. Pape. Frank JJ. Penick, Elmer C. Peter, Thomas R. Petri, T. C. Poling, Arthur R. Roy. Joseph A. Roy, Thomas A. Scherer, Wm. Schlagenhaut, Il. E. Schmiedeskamp, Ed- ward Shannon. W. B. Sheets, James N. Sprigg. David P. Strickler, Homer M. Swope. W. L. Vandeventer, John E. Wall, Almeron Wheat, George 11. Wilson, Samuel Woods.

One of the most substantial proofs of the bar's renewed interest and progressive spirit is the splendid bar library recently established and to which the county board of supervisors has allotted a room in the court house, The library already contains about 3,000 volumes, worth at least $6,000. It is the largest and best law library in the state ontside of Chi- rago, and valuable works are constantly be- ing added to it. The association furnishes the librarian, the present incumbent being Miss Margaret Wich, who is a lawyer.

CHAPTER LH. EDUCATIONAL. By Prof. N. J. Hinton.

The history of education in Adams county is interwoven with that of the state. Many in- teresting things pertaining to the early his- tory of education in Illinois are found hidden away in old newspapers, school journals, rare pamphlets, educational reports and congres- sional and legislative records, not easily ac- cessible to many. We are indebted to W. L. Pillsbury, so long registrar of the University of Illinois, who has ferreted out these facts from their various sources, for much of the in- formation here given.

The first General Assembly of Indiana Ter- ritory (of which Illinois was then a part) at the second session, "begun and held at the Borough of Vincennes" passed. November 29, 1806. "An aet to incorporate an university in Indiana Territory," and since this act was, doubtless, passed by the help of Illinois mem- bers and bears in addition to the approval of William Henry Harrison, Governor, the signa- tures of "Jesse B. Thomas, Speaker of the House of Representatives," and "P. Menard, President pro tem. of the Legislative Council," both Hlinois men and subsequently famous in our territorial and state history, we may fairly claim that it belongs in part to us. Following the enacting clause are numerous "where- ases." and a clause creating the corporation and a board of trustees, with Wm. Henry Har- rison at the head, who are directed to estab- lish the University as speedily as may be, and to appoint : "A president and not exceeding four professors for the instruction of the youth in the Latin, Greek, French and English lan- gnages. Mathematies. Natural Philosophy, Logie. Rhetoric and the Law of Nature and Nations." It was enacted "That no partienlar tenets of religion shall be taught in said Uni- versity by the president and professors." But it was provided in the aet that there should be established departments of theology, law and physie when the good of the University and the progress of education required their estab- lishment. Two other sections, 11 and 13, pro- vided respectively, the one for "the utmost endeavors of the trustees to induce the abo- rigines to send their children to the University for education, who, when sent, shall be main- tained, clothed and educated at the expense of said institution." the other for the estab- lishment of an institution for the education of females "as soon as in the opinion of the trus- tees the funds of the said institution will ad- mit. "

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The institution was given the seminary township and granted power to sell 4,000 acres; it was given power to receive donations and bequests and to hold not exceeding 100,000 aeres of land, and to raise $20,000 by a lot- tery. The trustees organized December 6, 1806, with Gen. Harrison as president : a brick building was erected and the preparatory de- partment put into operation, but it was not so successful as Harvard College in attracting the Indians; not even two were gathered within its walls. Tecumseh was organizing them for his struggle, and they "showed a far greater predisposition for disfurnishing the outside of other people's heads than for furnishing the insides of their own." The female department was not organized until 1856, and the male and female departments were merged together in 1870. But the subsequent checkered his- tory of Vincennes University belongs rather to Indiana than to Illinois.

One other act of the General Assembly of the Territory of Indiana also concerns us, viz .. that of 1808, empowering the Courts of Com- mon Pleas in the several connties of the Territory to lease for not more than five years school lands in their respective counties, not more than one quarter seetion to one man and with a provision that at least ten acres should be improved. This law was to continue in force until the close of the first session of the next Territorial Legislature, but this did not meet until 1810. and meanwhile Illinois Ter- ritory had been organized. However, the Governor and Judges of the new territory had met at Kaskaskia, June 13, 1809, and had re- solved that in their opinion the laws of In- diana of a general character were in force in Illinois so far as applicable; and the first art of the Territorial Legislature at the first ses- sion in 1812, declared the laws in force in In- diana, March 1, 1809, to be in force in Illinois. So it was more than probable that this law was continned, and that the 16th section lands were leased, if leased at all, by the Courts of Com- mon Pleas, until the State Legislature in 1819 provided otherwise.

The only action taken by our own territorial legislature with regard to schools or school lands, was a joint resolution passed JJanuary 4. 1816, which, after reciting the gift of a township of land for a seminary of learning. and that it had not been located vet, and that the registrar and receiver of public lands could not leave their business and make the location. requested them to appoint one or two persons competent to make the selection and to set apart the township chosen by them as the sem- inary township. The Auditor of the territory

was also directed by this resolution to pay the expenses that might be incurred in making the location. The township was selected in 1816; and by whomever made the selection seems to have been a poor one, for it. T. 5 N. R. 1 W., 3d P. M., is in the Okaw bottom in part, and the location was so unsatisfactory that on the plea that "This township now is and ever will continue to be totally valueless for a seminary of learning." the Legislature persuaded Con- gress to grant, in 1831. the right to surrender the township and select thirty-six sections in lien thereof.

One other act belonging both to our Terri- torial and State history should be mentioned here. When the act to enable the people of the Territory of Illinois to form a State Gov- ernment was under consideration in the House of Representatives. our delegate in Congress, Mr. Nathaniel Pope, as is well known, secured an amendment fixing our northern boundary where it is, instead of on a line running west from the south end of Lake Michigan, for Illi- nois the territory now containing more than one-third of the population and wealth of the State and the commercial emporium of the West. It is not so well known that on the same day he procured a further amendment of the act, thus gaining large funds for our schools. Ohio and Indiana, when admitted, had been granted five per cent of the net pro- ceeds of the future sales of government lands within their limit for building roads and canals. There was a similar provision in the Enabling Aet for Illinois. Through Mr. Pope's efforts the bill as amended gave three per cent of the proceeds of such sales for what we now know as "The School Fund Proper" and our "Col- lege Fund." That we have to-day these two noble school funds, both together in round numbers $800,000. is dne to Nathaniel Pope's sagacity.

The essential points of the free school idea are: (1) A school system based upon law. (2) A school free of all rates or charges for all children of given ages. (3) Defraying all the expenses of such school. except so far as paid by the incomes of school funds, by a general tax upon all classes of property and all per- sons. The school law passed by the General Assembly of Illinois, January 15. 1825. em- braced all these points, with the additional pro- vision that two dollars out of every hundred received into the State Treasury should be dis- tributed to the counties for the support of pub- lie schools organized under the act, in accord- ance with which the state aid would have been at first about $1,000 a year. The law met with much elamorous opposition, which was strong

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enough to repeal the provision for State aid at the next session of the General Assembly, and to take all the life out of the measure by amending it so that no one should be taxed without his consent.

It was fully thirty years before the advanced position taken by this early law was reached and permanently occupied by the State; for it was not until 1855 that our present free school law was enacted and our schools put upon a sound financial basis. The subject of education was one, however, that was foreing itself upon the people of the State. The press was active in presenting the needs of provision for the establishment of schools by showing that from one-half to three-fourths of the children in the State were destitute of the means of education. Parents whose children were growing up in ignorance were, many of them, restive, and candidates for office who in those days ad- dressed themselves directly to voters declaring their positions upon questions of publie inter- est. deemed it wise in announcing themselves to proclaim their devotion to the cause of learning. The Sangamo Journal of March 15, 1832, has a "Communication" signed "A. Lin- roln," dated New Salem, March 9, 1832, ad- dressed to the people of Sangamo County. After declaring himself in favor of opening good roads : of building a railroad from Spring- field to the Ilinois river at an estimated ex- pense of $290,800 and of enacting a law set- ting a limit to usury, he proceeded at some length, in this "Communication," to express his views upon the importance of educational advantages and their necessity from a eivie as well as from a moral standpoint.

In February, 1833, there was held at Van- dalia what is called the first of the series of educational conventions, which, running up to 1855, served to bring together the friends of education, to harmonize and concentrate their efforts, and rouse the enthusiasm and create the outside pressure so often needed to secure legislation. The occasion seems to have been seized upon to organize an educational society, the movement being led by Rev. JJ. M. Peck. An address on Education was delivered at the State llouse by James ITall, and after the ad- dress resolutions were adopted expressing the appreciation of the address, good will to Judge ITall and regret at his contemplated departure from the State.

In addition to this a committee was ap- pointed to devise measures for obtaining in- formation on the subject of education, and to devise a system of publie instruction, and to report on these subjects the following Mon- day evening. The result of the whole matter

was the organization of the Illinois Institute of Education. A Constitution was adopted and officers were elected. A bill to incorporate an institution under the name of Illinois University was introduced in the General Assembly in 1833. It failed, however, not alone because of the jealousies of the friends of the three col- leges already in existence, though not incor- porated, but doubtless from the reasons, also, that the State, not having the courage to levy taxes for its current expenses, had laid hands upon the College fund and proceeds of the sales of Seminary lands, used them up and could not pay. Governor Dunean in his mes- sage to the next General Assembly, in Decem- ber, 1834, urged the establishment of a State University, and in one way and another the question was agitated from this time on un- til the Illinois Industrial University was in- corporated in 1867.

The itinerant school teacher is still known in the land, but the itinerant or circuit school, which had some advocates, and existed in Bond County and perhaps elsewhere about this time, has passed away. The plan was for the teacher to spend from 8 o'clock a. m. to 12 in the school in one district and then go to the next district, have school from 2 o'clock p. m. to 4, and the next morning from 8 o'clock to 12, returning from the afternoon to the first district. Another plan was for the teacher, when the schools were too far apart for him to go from one to the other at noon, to stay two or three days at one school and then the same time at the other, and sometimes the teacher would take charge of three schools in this way. The teacher was expected to furnish books, etc., in part. It is reported that both patrons and teachers agreed that on this plan the children made as great, or even greater proficiency in the same time than on the plan of all day schools. It is in- ferred from the l'aet that there is so little record of them that but few schools were conducted upon that plan.

The friends of education began early in 1834, to prepare for the meeting of the leg- islature in December. The indefatigable Rev. J. M. Peck suggested the importance of a State Education Convention at Vandalia the first Friday in December, which was also the time of meeting of Illinois Institute of Eduea- tion. This suggestion was followed and over half the counties of the State sent delegates to what is known as the second "Illinois Education Convention." It is inferred that as the proceedings make no mention of the Institute that the Institute's meeting was merged into that of the Convention. The

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immediate effect of the action of this Con- vention was a "Report on the Subject of Education," made to the Senate Feb. 5, 1835, by Hon. Wm. J. Gatewood, senator from Gal- latin County, "Proposing a plan for a uniform system of common schools and county semi- naries throughout the State." The plan was an excellent one, superior in some respects to that now in operation, but it was of no avail. The legislature still believed in keeping taxation at a minimum. The most it would do was to direct the Auditor to ascertain the amount due to the several school funds from the State, computing the interest at six per cent, and to order that beginning with JJan. 1, 1836. the interest should be distributed annually to the counties, on the basis of the minor white pop- ulation, to be used in paying teachers' wages, providing that not more than half the wages should be paid in this way, leaving the other half. the incidental expenses and the build- ing of school houses to be provided for by the voluntary efforts of the patrons of the schools.

In 1834-5. Alton College (now Shurtleff), Illinois College and MeRendreean College (later MeKendree), each came before the legis- lature seeking a charter. The friends of these institutions, having gained wisdom, from pre- vious experiences, consulted together, and on the suggestion of JJudge Thomas, concluded to put in one bill instead of three, and that was drawn by Judge Thomas. These institutions were all sectarian. or. at least, closely allied with the leading religious denominations, and there was a strong prejudice against sectarian influence and a fear that the institutions might become large landed monopolies under the dominion of the clergy and the Yankees. From this and other causes the friends of the colleges were forced to admit two restrictions into their charters; one, that they should not hold more than 640 acres of land, and the other that they should not establish theological departments. They, however, took what they could get and bided their time ( which came a few years later) to get rid of the limitations. The Educational Convention had, doubtless, some influence in favor of granting these charters. The bill, as passed, included Jonesborough College, in Union County, which was added to the other three named above while the measure was pending, as appears from the legislative record.

The first county meeting of teachers in this State, so far as can be learned, was "The Sangamon Connty Society for the Promotion of Education." formally organized Ang. 19. 1837, with Erastus Wright, president. It had a course of lectures, the following winter.

The Sangamo Journal, Ang. 13, 1836, had

this: "The annual commencement of Jackson- ville Colleges, Sept. 21, 1836, N. B .- A con- vention of teachers will be held on the after- noon of the preceding to concert measures for the cause of education in this state."

The meeting was held, pursuant to notice on the afternoon of Sept. 20, 1836. and adjourn- ment made to Thursday, Sept. 22, at 2 o'clock p. m., when the Illinois Teachers' Association was organized with Rev. Edwd. Beecher, Presi- dent : Revs. John Bachelor and Lewis Coleby, Vice-Presidents: Rev. John F. Brooks, Secre- tary ; Mr. R. A. Russell, Treasurer ; Revs. J. M. Sturtevant, Theron Baldwin and John Bachelor, Committee of Arrangements for the next meeting.

At the regular session of the General Assem- bly of 1836-37, an act was passed permitting the people of any township to organize for school purposes, and having done that, to eleet five trustees, who should have charge of all the school affairs of the township, employ teachers (but only such as held certificates), make reports to the school commissioners, ex- amine teachers and give them certificates. Had these trustees been given the power to levy taxes, to build school honses and maintain schools, the law passed might have proved the foundation of a "township" system better in many respects than our present "district" sys- tem. Lacking this power the plan was fatally weak.

To the year 1837 belongs the first school journal printed in Illinois, The Common School Advocate, published at Jacksonville, by E. T. and (. Gondy, monthly, beginning with Jan- nary. The editorial department was conducted by a few literary gentlemen who were doubt- less Illinois College professors.

At the session of the legislature in 1838-9. Hon. O. H. Browning. senator from Adams County, introduced a bill for a system of common schools, but any statement of the bill. which failed to pass, has not been found. The legislature at the same session passed a bill making county school commissioners elective : but the Council of Revision returned the bill with objections, and it was laid on the table. A bill to create the office of State Superintendent seems to have remained in the hands of the committee to which it was referred. Efforts in this direction were also made at the special session of the legislature. 1839-40, with the same general results.

The Sangamo Journal, Nov. 27, 1840, issued a call for an educational convention to be held in Springfieldl commencing Dee. 16, 1840. This convention met in the Hall of Representatives, in the evening of Dec. 16, and seems to have

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held an evening session only. After temporary organization and addresses by a number of prominent men. a committee was appointed to consider the propriety of a permanent or- ganization and to report at a future meeting. This meeting was hell in the Senate Chamber, Dee. 28, and the Illinois State Education Society was organized. At this meeting, or at a special meeting, a committee was appointed to prepare a memorial to the legislature. This was presented in the House Jan. 13, 1841. Doubtless as a result of the disenssions in this meeting and the influence of the memorial, a bill was introduced Jan. 16, making provision for organizing and maintaining common schools. The act, as passed, has 109 sections, one of which repeals all previous aets. It made the county commissioner an elective offieer, with a term of two years. The sale of school lands and the loaning of school funds at twelve per cent interest were carefully provided for. The incorporation of school townships and the organization of school districts was made pos- sible, all over the state. The examination of teachers by trustees and directors was pro- vided for, also penalties for failure to make re- ports. But no taxation for school purposes was permitted.

In 1839, John S. Wright. Secretary of the Union Agrienltural Society, who, in 1835 had erected at his own expense ($507.93) the first building for a school house in Chicago. pro- posed to publish a paper under the anspices of the Society-devoted to agricultural interests. Two advance members were published in the fall of 1840, and in these he wrote at length upon the great need in the new county of good teachers, and proposed as the remedy that the State should at once establish teachers seminary and endow it with the college and seminary funds So far as has been found this is the first definite proposition for a State Normal School in Hlinois. Mr. Wright's paper was the Union Agriculturalist and Western Prairie Farmer, which became the Prairie Farmer in 1843. Mr. Wright was very active in the cause of education for many years. not only through the columns of his paper but by personally appearing before the legislature explaining and elneidating measures proposed for the organization of a better system of com- mon schools. From the start until the Illinois Teacher was begun in 1855, his paper. the Prairie Farmer, occupied the field of school journalism in Illinois. The school history of this period is largely written from its pages.

In 1844 a law was passed in which substan- tial progress was made. The Secretary of State was made ex-officio State Superintendent of

Common Schools, with nearly the same dnties as the Superintendent now has, and the County Commissioner of School Lands was made ex- officio County Superintendent of Schools, and was required to visit schools and to give advice on all matters pertaining thereto, he was also required, with the assistance of associates whom he should appoint, to examine all can- didates for positions as teachers in his eounty and to issue certificates to such as were found worthy and well qualified. School funds could not be paid to such teachers as did not hold certificates. Trustees were equal in power with commissioners in the matter of the examination of teachers. The congressional townships were made school townships with a board of trus- tees elected, and with nearly the same powers as now. It also made it the duty of the trus- tees to district the townships and gave such districts power to eleet a board of directors to manage its schools as they now do. In fact it gave us the "distriet" system. A homeo- pathie dose of taxation was also permitted : the legal voters of the district could vote a tax, for all school purposes. not exceeding fifteen cents on the hundred dollars. Of all these changes for the better, no one was of more value than that which gave supervision of the teachers and the schools. The quicken- ing effect of the new law. and of the disens- sions which preceded and followed it, was felt in the organization of many teachers' associa- tions. The Franklin Association included Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and Madison Conn- ties, and was organized Oet. 2. 1845. Adams and Marquette (afterwards absorbed in Adams) Counties formed an association. These were only two of the many associations formed.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 56

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228